Gerbera plant named &#39;Sweet Frosting&#39;

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of  Gerbera  plant named ‘Sweet Frosting’, characterized by its compact, broadly upright and uniformly mounding plant habit; dense and bushy appearance; numerous inflorescences with white-colored ray florets; upright and moderately strong scapes; and good garden performance and relative tolerance to high and low temperatures.

Botanical designation: Gerbera hybrida.

Cultivar denomination: ‘SWEET FROSTING’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Gerberaplant, botanically known as Gerbera hybrida and hereinafter referred toby the cultivar name ‘Sweet Frosting’.

The new Gerbera plant is a product of a planned breeding programconducted by the Inventor in De Kwakel, The Netherlands. The objectiveof the breeding program is to create new compact garden Gerbera plantswith numerous attractive inflorescences, resistant to cold temperaturesand good garden performance.

The new Gerbera plant originated from a cross-pollination in March, 2012of a proprietary selection of Gerbera hybrida identified as code number10T0350, not patented, as the female, or seed, parent with a proprietaryselection of Gerbera hybrida identified as code number 11T0730, notpatented, as the male, or pollen, parent. The new Gerbera plant wasdiscovered and selected as a single flowering plant from within theprogeny of the stated cross-pollination in a controlled greenhouseenvironment in De Kwakel, The Netherlands in June, 2013.

Asexual reproduction of the new Gerbera plant by vegetative terminalcuttings and in vitro meristem culture since June, 2014 has shown thatthe unique features of this new Gerbera plant are stable and reproducedtrue to type in successive generations of asexual reproduction.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Plants of the new Gerbera have not been observed under all possiblecombinations of environmental conditions and cultural practices. Thephenotype may vary somewhat with variations in environmental conditionssuch as temperature and light intensity, without, however, any variancein genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined tobe the unique characteristics of ‘Sweet Frosting’. These characteristicsin combination distinguish ‘Sweet Frosting’ as a new and distinctGerbera plant:

-   -   1. Compact, broadly upright and uniformly mounding plant habit.    -   2. Dense and bushy appearance.    -   3. Numerous inflorescences with white-colored ray florets.    -   4. Upright and moderately strong scapes.    -   5. Good garden performance and relative tolerance to high and        low temperatures.

Plants of the new Gerbera differ primarily from plants of the femaleparent selection in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Gerbera have narrower leaves than plants of        the female parent selection.    -   2. Plants of the new Gerbera have smaller inflorescences than        plants of the female parent selection.    -   3. Plants of the new Gerbera have shorter scapes than plants of        the female parent selection.

Plants of the new Gerbera differ primarily from plants of the maleparent selection in inflorescence size as plants of the new Gerbera havelarger inflorescences than plants of the male parent selection. Inaddition, scapes of plants of the new Gerbera are mostly green in colorwhereas scapes of plants of the male parent selection are reddish greenin color.

Plants of the new Gerbera can be compared to plants of the Gerberahybrida ‘Garsylvana’, disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 22,442. Plants ofthe new Gerbera differ from plants of ‘Garsylvana’ in the followingcharacteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Gerbera have larger inflorescences than        plants of ‘Garsylvana’.    -   2. Inflorescences of plants of the new Gerbera have        darker-colored centers than inflorescences of plants of        ‘Garsylvana’.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPH

The accompanying photograph illustrates the overall appearance of thenew Gerbera plant showing the colors as true as it is reasonablypossible to obtain in colored reproductions of this type. Colors in thephotograph may differ slightly from the color values cited in thedetailed botanical description which accurately describe the colors ofthe new Gerbera plant.

The photograph (FIG. 1) is a side perspective view of a typicalflowering plant of ‘Sweet Frosting’ grown in a container.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The aforementioned photograph and following observations andmeasurements describe plants grown during the spring and summer in 17-cmcontainers in a glass-covered greenhouse in De Kwakel, The Netherlandsand under cultural practices typical of commercial garden Gerberaproduction. During the production of the plants, day temperatures rangedfrom 12° C. to 18° C. and night temperatures ranged from 12° C. to 16°C. Plants were six months old when the photograph was taken and 20 weeksold when the description was taken. In the following description, colorreferences are made to The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart,2015 Edition, except where general terms of ordinary dictionarysignificance are used.

-   Botanical classification: Gerbera hybrida ‘Sweet Frosting’.-   Parentage:    -   -   Female, or seed, parent.—Proprietary selection of Gerbera            hybrida identified as code number 10T0350, not patented.        -   Male, or pollen, parent.—Proprietary selection of Gerbera            hybrida identified as code number 11T0730, not patented.-   Propagation:    -   -   Type.—By cuttings and in vitro meristem culture.        -   Time to initiate roots, by cuttings, summer and            winter.—About 3.5 weeks at minimum temperatures of 20° C.        -   Time to initiate roots, by tissue culture, summer and            winter.—About 2.5 to 3 weeks at minimum temperatures of 20°            C.        -   Time to produce a rooted young plant, by cuttings, summer            and winter.—About 3.5 weeks at temperatures about 20° C. to            26° C.        -   Time to produce a rooted young plant, by tissue culture,            summer and winter.—About five to six weeks at temperatures            about 20° C.        -   Root description.—Fibrous; typically white in color, actual            color of the roots is dependent on substrate composition,            water quality, fertilizer type and formulation, substrate            temperature and physiological age of roots.-   Plant description:    -   -   Appearance.—Herbaceous perennial that is typically grown as            a container or garden plant; compact and uniformly mounding            plant habit; upright, broadly spreading and roughly            flattened globular in shape; numerous leaves arranged in            basal rosettes; dense and bushy habit; inflorescences held            above the foliar plane on erect and strong basal scapes;            moderately vigorous growth habit and moderate growth rate.        -   Plant height, soil level to top of foliar plane.—About 20            cm.        -   Plant height, soil level to top of inflorescences.—About            44.9 cm.        -   Plant width or spread.—About 35.4 cm.-   Leaf description:    -   -   Arrangement.—Alternate, basal, simple.        -   Length.—About 11.7 cm.        -   Width.—About 7.8 cm.        -   Shape.—Ovate; slightly to moderately concave.        -   Apex.—Obtuse.        -   Base.—Hastate to shallowly sagittate and tapering at the            base.        -   Margin.—Coarsely and irregularly angulate; slightly to            moderately undulate.        -   Texture and luster, upper surface.—Moderately to densely            pubescent; slightly rugose; moderately glossy.        -   Texture and luster, lower surface.—Moderately to densely            pubescent, slightly rugose; slightly glossy.        -   Venation pattern.—Pinnate.        -   Color.—Developing leaves, upper surface: Close to between            141A and 143A. Developing leaves, lower surface: Close to            146B. Fully expanded leaves, upper surface: Slightly darker            than NN137A; venation, close to 143C. Fully expanded leaves,            lower surface: Close to 147B; venation, close to 146B to            146C.        -   Petioles.—Length: About 9.9 cm. Diameter: About 3 mm.            Texture and luster, upper and lower surfaces: Densely            pubescent; moderately glossy. Strength: Moderate to strong.            Color, upper surface: Close to 143A; proximally, close to            146B. Color, lower surface: Close to 144A; proximally tinged            with close to 197A.-   Inflorescence description:    -   -   Appearance.—Composite inflorescence form with            oblanceolate-shaped ray florets; solitary inflorescences            borne on upright and moderately strong scapes and held above            the foliar plane; ray and disc florets arranged acropetally            on a capitulum; inflorescences face upright.        -   Fragrance.—None detected.        -   Flowering season.—Plants begin flowering about three months            after planting; under garden conditions in The Netherlands,            plants flower from spring to late autumn; plants can be            flowered year-round in the greenhouse.        -   Inflorescence longevity.—Depending on the temperature,            inflorescences last about three weeks on the plant;            inflorescences persistent.        -   Quantity of inflorescences.—Freely flowering habit with            about ten open inflorescences per plant at one time.        -   Inflorescence buds.—Height: About 2.5 cm. Diameter: About            1.8 cm. Shape: Broadly oblong. Texture and luster:            Moderately pubescent; matte. Color: Close to 137C and            distally, close to 143C; immature ray florets, close to            between 145D and 157B.        -   Inflorescence size.—Diameter: About 7.2 cm. Depth (height):            About 3.2 cm. Diameter of disc: About 2.2 cm.        -   Receptacles.—Height: About 2 mm. Diameter: About 4.5 mm.            Shape: Broadly rhomboidal. Color: Close to 157C.        -   Ray florets.—Quantity and arrangement: About 54 per            inflorescence arranged in about three whorls. Orientation:            Proximally, about 30° from vertical; distally, close to            horizontal. Length: About 4.1 cm. Width: About 6 mm. Shape:            Oblanceolate. Apex: Bluntly acute to narrowly obtuse. Base:            Narrowly cuneate. Margin: Entire. Texture and luster, upper            surface: Smooth, glabrous; velvety; matte. Texture and            luster, lower surface: Smooth, glabrous; moderately velvety;            slightly carinate; slightly glossy. Color: When opening,            upper and lower surfaces: Close to NN155B. Fully opened,            upper surface: Close to NN155C; at the apex, close to 157A;            venation, close to NN155C; color does not change with            development. Fully opened, lower surface: Close to NN155C;            at the apex, close to 150D; venation, close to NN155C; color            does not change with development.        -   Disc florets.—Quantity and arrangement: About 300 disc            florets at center of the inflorescence arranged in a            ten-whorl spiral. Length: About 1.6 cm. Width: About 3.5 mm.            Shape: Tubular with one or two narrow free lobes and one            broader free lobe. Apex: Acute and recurved; upper 15%,            free. Base: Lower 85%, fused. Margin, free lobes: Entire.            Texture, upper surface: Smooth, glabrous; moderately            velvety; matte. Texture, lower surface: Smooth, glabrous;            slightly velvety; slightly glossy. Color: When opening,            inner and outer surface: Close to 11A; proximally, close to            4D. Fully opened, inner and outer surface: Close to 10D;            proximally, close to 4D; color does not change with            development.        -   Pappus.—Quantity of hairs per floret: About 60. Length:            About 7 mm. Diameter: Less than 1 mm. Texture and luster:            Soft; matte. Color: Close to 162D; distally, close to N77D.        -   Phyllaries.—Quantity and arrangement: About 60 per            inflorescence arranged in about three whorls. Length: About            1.3 cm. Width (at base): About 2.5 mm. Shape: Ligulate.            Apex: Narrowly acute. Base: Cuneate. Margin: Entire. Texture            and luster, upper surface: Smooth, glabrous; moderately            glossy. Texture and luster, lower surface: Densely            pubescent; matte. Color, upper surface: Close to 143A; at            the margins, close to 145D. Color, lower surface: Close to            137B.        -   Scapes.—Length: About 36.6 cm. Diameter: Proximally, about 5            mm; distally, about 4 mm. Strength: Moderately strong.            Angle: About 15° from vertical. Texture and luster: Densely            pubescent; moderately glossy. Color: Close to 144A;            proximally, tinged with close to 178A; distally, close to            146B.        -   Reproductive organs.—Androecium (present on disc florets            only): Quantity per floret: Five. Filament length: About            6 mm. Filament color: Close to 157D. Anther shape: Ligulate;            basifixed. Anther size: About 4 mm by 0.3 mm. Anther color:            Close to 13B. Pollen amount: Scarce to moderate. Pollen            color: Close to 13B. Gynoecium (present only on ray and disc            florets): Quantity per floret: One. Pistil length: About            1.2 cm. Stigma diameter: About 0.5 mm. Stigma shape: Cleft.            Stigma color: Close to N77A. Style length: About 1.1 cm.            Style color: Close to NN155C. Ovary color: Close to 157D.        -   Seeds and fruits.—To date, seed and fruit production has not            been observed on plants of the new Gerbera.-   Pathogen & pest resistance: Resistance to pathogens and pests common    to Gerbera plants has not been observed on plants of the new Gerbera    grown under commercial production conditions to date.-   Garden performance: Plants of the new Gerbera have been observed to    have good garden performance and to tolerate high temperatures about    35° C. and to be cold hardy to USDA Hardiness Zone 8.

It is claimed:
 1. A new and distinct Gerbera plant named ‘SweetFrosting’ as illustrated and described.